Rotary pump and motor type fluid transmission



Feb. 9, 1954 7 Sheets-Shet l Filed Feb. 26 1951 INVENToR.

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y Filed Feb. 26. 1951 v. E. GLEASMAN 2,668,417 ROTARY PUMP AND MOTOR TYPE FLUID TRANSMISSION 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 ROTARY PUMP AND MOTOR TYPE FLUID TRANSMISSION A 'fwn/veg Feb. 9, 1954 v E, GLEASMAN 2,668,417

ROTARY PUMP AND MOTOR TYPE FLUID TRANSMISSION 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Feb. 26 1951 INVENTOR.

Patented Feb. 9, 1954 OFFICE ROTARY PUMP AND MOTOR TYPE FLUID TRANSMISSION Vernon E. Gleasman, Elmira, N. Y. Application February 26, 1951, Serial No. 212,739 8 Claims. (Cl. 60-53) This invention is a novel self-contained uld drive of infinite ratio, and the principal object thereof is to provide a drive of the above type including in one casing a rotary fluid pump, and a rotary fluid motor, with valve means interposed between the outlet of the pump and the inlet of the motor whereby the motor may be driven in either direction, said valve containing pressure-regulating mechanism for initially positioning the vanes of the motor rotor into contact with the inner walls of the motor chamber, said casing being associated with cooling means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fluid drive of the above type in which the side plates of both the pump and motor are rotatable by and with the ends of their respective pump and motor rotors, and contain annular fluid channels, the rotatable side plates reducing fluid drag and locking tendencies on the sidewalls of the pump and motor rotors, also by reason of the fact that the annular channels rotate with the rotors, cavitation at the bases of the rotor blades during operation of the unit is avoided by having the fluid in the side walls in constant communication and rotating with the inner ends of the slots for the vanes in the pump and motor rotors.

Another object of the invention is to providea novel fluid circuit whereby uid is directed into and out of the ducts of the pump rotor from opposite sides thereof, and at its periphery to avoid cavitation and back pressure, whereby fluid is directed through the valve into either end of the motor rotor atopposite sides to avoid areas of back pressure in the fluid circuit at the entrance E ports of the fluid motor.

A further object thereof is to provide a novel construction utilizing a hydraulically balanced motor rotor associated with the above combination.

Another object is to provide eil'icient cooling means.

Other minor objects of the invention will be hereinafter set forth.

I will explain the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate several practical embodiments thereof, to enable others familiar with the art to adopt and use the same; and will summarize in the claims the novel features of construction, and novel combinations of parts, for which protection is desired.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through my novel fluid drive, showing the arrangement of thepurnp, the valve, and the motor, exclusive ofthe reservoir.

. Fig. 6.

Fig. '7 is a transverse section on the line 1 1, Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is an end view of the drive looking at the pump side. 1 j

Fig. 9 is an end view of the drive looking at the motor side.

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view of my novel fluid circuit.

Figs. 11 and 12 are views of the reservoir, and" cooling means.

As shown in Fig. l, the fluid drive consists of a central valve block 8 having a bore for a cylindrical directional control valve 26 contained in the bore and having ports, as hereinafter explained, for controlling the llow of fluid from the pump to the motor, for driving the latter in either for-- ward or reverse directions. Also contained in thev control valve 26 is a pressure regulator, hereinafter described, for maintaining suilicient pressure in the motor to project the vane blades from their slots into working engagement with Vthe inner surfaces of the motor chamber, thereb eliminating the necessity of springs.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the valve block 8 is substantially cylindrical at the motor side but substantially D-shaped at the pump side; and is provided with bores 8a for receiving the bolts 28 which lock the pump unit thereto. In Fig. -2 the bore for the valve 25 is indicated at 3b, the same extending entirely through the blocks; and at the center of the bore 8 at the top thereof is an inlet port 8c, into which fluid from the pump is directed through ports 8d and 8e, At the opposite sides of the inlet port 8c are two ports 8f and 8g' (Fig. 2) the port 8f in the forward direction of the motor being an inlet port, and port 8f communicating through the valve 25 with a duct 8h (Fig. 2) which leads through the valve block 8 to a chamber 8i which is disposed opposite one of the inlet ports of the motor unit when the motor is rotating in the forward direction, as hereinafter explained.

When the motor is rotating in the reverse dihand side of the valve block 8, the same being connected thereto by the cap screws 28 to form a rigid unit therewith.

The pump shown more particularly in Fig. l

comprises an annular casing 9 having bore5*.tlfiere-y through for the reception of the cap bolts 28p, the same having in its peripheral-portion the ports Bd and 8c (Fig. l) and having a Central bore of relatively large diameter vin which is jcurnaled an annular-,sleeve Se. Contacting Vthe outer `face o1 the side casing Si' is a central casing member .E (as shown, in Fias- 1` and .3) having` e here of Special design, hereinafter reerred to, in which is mounted the pump roter i6.

Beyond the central casing member 4ii 4is a side casing vl (shown in Figs. A1 and 8) having b QISS therethrough for the reception of the `cap bolts 28, the s amehavingarelatively large borethereiu in which is journaled a bearing sleeve ic.

Withinthe sleeves Iaand Se are hub members 2 and 4, respectively, which make a running .t withinthelsleeves .Laand 9c, and which support the pump shaft 3 which carries the pump rotor l, which is keyed thereon, `Vas shown in Fig. 3, the shaft 3 preferably having a. head cn its inner endeneae-ng theinner ieee f the heb member 4, and having a threaded portion ib receiving ,a vnut and y.lock washerI la Vthe iatter engaging the outer face of the hub member 2 so that, bytighteningthe nut 5, the huh, ,members .2 and 4 will be compressed against thesides of the pump A rotor i5 and `held trictionally engaged therewith.

Bythe above construction vthe hub members and f4 "are, of substantially the-same diameter as the pump rotor YIii ybut are permitted to, rotate freelyiby and with the-pump rotor, thuseliminating the Vside `wall drag oi the rotor -I with re-y spect to the side hub walls of the pump casing, andcompletely eliminating anytendency of locking the rotor t5 -in the-pump casing by `side pres. sure. Thepump shaft 3 may-be driven Vby yany suitable prime mover at constant .or variable speeds.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the central pump casing 6 is substantially Dshaped, theI same being substantially cylindrical at one end and substantally rectangular at-the other. The circular portion has a substantially semicylindrieal wall @a which makes'a close ruiming lit with the pe-r ripheryof rotor I6.

At the opposite side of rotor I S, `and slidable within the rectangular portion of casing (Fig. 3) is a block 'ihaving an arcuate surface Ic similar to the arcuate surface C-c, but as the same is formed as a part of the block l', the surface 'in is adjustable towards or from the rotor IS, to increase or decrease the volume of pumping chamber, thereby controlling the amount of iluicl discharged from the pump which turn controls the speed of the fluid motor.

In the casing 5 (Fig. 3) at the top thereof is an outlet port Si) which communicates with the inner upper ,end of the pumping chamber and with an inlet port 5c (Fig. 3) communicating with the lower end of the pumping chamber, said inlet port 6c extending through the casing 6 from one side to the other and being in communication with an inlet port 6d (Fig, 8) in the outer member I of the pump casing (Fig. 8) and with an inlet duct Se (Fig. l) in the member 8 at the opposits side of the pump rotor I, so that fluid is conducted into the inlet port 6c from opposite sidesof the pump rotor I5' to avoid cavitaton. The outlet port b (Fig. 3) directly communicates fvvith the outlet ports 8d and 8c (Fig. 5) leading into the valve block 8, hereinbefore referred to. The rotor i6 (Fig. 3) is provided with a series of radial slots Ia receiving radially movable blades V'I il `rwhich contact at their outer ends the arcuate surface da of the pump casing i and the arcuate surface la of the slidable biocli I at all times. Said rotor IG may be nearly hydraulically balanced by bleeding of area Si which is directly onpesteto, the Vsump and .bv directing pressure to area-ee which is Opposite to the ,exhaust atea,

The .ends of the slots 6a Communicate ateaeb side of. `the pump meter with an annuler .slet 2a (Fig. -1) in the hub at one side of thepurnp rotorv IS and with an annular slot fic in `the hub 4 at the other side of the pump rotor at all times, in order `to .actuate and to neutralize the pres,-Y sure Hat the bases ofthe respective blades I8 ,and the Werking pressure at their outer tipe Ql at the outlet pressure of the valve bloclgis corri-VV municated directly to one of the annular grooves 4a by means of a duct 4b (Fig. 1) theoilpassing threushthe bese .o slet 1.641 direetlv .inte the other annular erom/ela. T hus the 0.11 pres.- Sure in the annular grooves 4v2a endzla the seme er substantially the seme es. .the pump Outlet pressure, and thus .the Oilbehind the blades. I8 in the Slots 115.11, urges the blades outwardly thi-ouen the sump allee Vte maintainsanie in een: tact with. the pimp chamber le. .the eil pres-fV sure being assisted Vby centrifugal -forceori the blades when revolved'by the prime mover.

The valve block 'I (Fig. 3) may be radiusted towards or yfrorxrrotor `I6 by means cfa rod J9. passing through e here h et the -Qutletend ef the block 6 and connected at its inner end of the block 1, the rod I9 Abeing controlled mannelly @1r-automatically in anyv desired manner.

I-n Eis. 3 a threaded adjustable abutment Iii is Lshowin for preventing the outer face 0f the block from eentaetmathe adjacent feeeef the easing thereby limiting the kSpeed ef the as secieted fluid y1116601?- The Huid-motor is ,disposed-etwa oppositeside of the valve block 3 and consists of an innerside casing member I2, a central annular casing member I2., and an outer side :casing member i4. each `of' which is provided with bores receiving cap screws 28 or the like whereby the motor unitv is ixedly secured `to fthe valve casing 8.

The inner motor casing member I2 is provided with a relatively large borein which'is journaled a bushing I2a, while the outermotorcasing mem.- ber I4 is provided with a relatively large bore in `which is journaled a bushing Illa similar-fte the bushings Ia and 8a of the pump unit. In the bushings I2@ and I lia are journaled heads 4a: and 2-:1: similar in all respects to the head units and 2 of the pump unit, the head unitsva: and 2m carrying a driven shaft similar inall respects to the drive shaft 3 of the pump, the parts being identicalwiththe parts 2 3, lof the, pump unit-hereinbefore described.

'The motor shaft 3x has -xedlymountedA thereon, as shown in Fig. 4, a rotor |6w similar in all respects tothe pump rotor I6, the same being provided with slots |61: to carry blades l8r, the heads 4x and Zbeing respectively provided with annular grooves 2am and 4am, one of which is connected by a duct 417.1: with the outlet of the valve block so that the pressure in the annular grooves 4am and 2am will be equal to the inlet uid pressure of the pump. Astheabove parts are similar in al1 respects, both as ton-construction and operation, with the corresponding parts of the pump unit, no further description is necessary herein. l The center motor casing I3 (Fig. 4) is p rovided with an annular inner wall |3arhaving diametrically opposed enlargements |3b and |3c therein extending approximately 66 in arcuate length respectively and provided with inlet and. outlet ports at each end thereof.

' As shown in Fig. 4, the diametrically opposed inlet ports |3e and |3f are, in the forward direction of the rotor, connected through ducts with the ports 8f and 8i (Fig. 2) of the valve block 8, whereas in the reverse direction of the motor the ports |3g and |3h `are connected withy theports 8g and 8k of the valve block 8 (Fig. 2) as shown more particularly in Fig. 10.

In Fig. 4 the ducts |37' connect opposite sides of the ducts 3e, |3f, |3g and |3111. respectively, through the casing member |3, with opposite sides of the pump rotor |610, so that uid may be supplied thereto or exhausted from both sides of the pump rotor simultaneously, as indicated in Fig. 10.

In Fig. 7 a separator plate is shown positioned, as in Fig. 1, between the valve block 8 and the motor unit I2, the same having four ports I'Ia therein j'valve block 8 being chamfered as at IIb so as to register with the openings in the separator plate I| and inner motor casing. The purpose of the plate I I is to conne the fluid to certain portions of the interior of the motor casing, said plate II also having a bleed-olf passage 4y betweenthe valve block and the inner rotor head 4:1: forl the purpose hereinafter described, the radial slot in plate I I bleeding off the fluid entrapped between the valve block 8 and the inner head 4:1: to the reservoir.

A similar plate IIJ is interposed between the pump unit and the valve block 8, the'fsame being provided with a radial slot Illa which bleeds off the fluid entrapped between the valve block 8 and the inner rotor hub 4 to sump 6e. Fig. 6 shows the rotor plate I2 and the arrangement of slots looking in the direction `of the arrows shown in section 6 6, Fig. 1.

As shown in Fig. 5, the valve 26 is cylindrical, the same being threaded at each end and provided -with heads 24 at each end,`-the heads being provided with central cylindrical enlargements upon which are threaded sleevs 2| which are lclosed at their outer ends. The heads 24 are provided With central bores 24a which slidably receive pins 23 which terminate within the sleeve 26 adjacent the central portion. Pins 23 are provided with heads on their fouter ends within the bores of the sleeves 2| 'and are directly engaged by springs 22 in the bores interposed between the heads of the pins'and inner ends of the bores, the springs normally maintaining the pins projected towards the center of the valve 26.

, In the valve 26 is a freely slidable piston 21 adapted to be shifted or actuated-.by pressure within one orthe otherk end of the? valve, the

Fig. 12.

I do not limit my invention to the exact form shown in the drawings, for obviously changesv Y block.

Adjacent the ends of the valve 26 are ports 2Gb and 26o respectively adapted to register in one or 'other extreme position, right or left, of the valve with the inlet port 8c of the valve 26. The valve is manually or automatically operated to reverse the motor. When the Valve is in the position shown in Fig. 2, the port 26h registers with the inlet port 8c of the valve and the port 26a registers with the port 8h; also port 8f is open to port I3e (Figs. 4 and 10) of the valve block 8, while port 26e is blocked olf. The uid -pressure entering port 26h into the interior of the sleeve will push the piston 27 into the position shown in Fig. 5, thus' uncovering port 26a after the blades Ism of the motor rotor have been shifted radially outwardly into contact with the inner Wall of the motor chamber by reason of the passage of fluid through the duct 412x (Fig. 1) into the annular chambers 4ax and 2am of the motor hubs, this increase in pressure being occasioned by the resistance of the spring-pressed pin 23 which is engaged by the piston 21 immediately after it leaves its central neutral position in which the piston 21 would normally cover the port'26a. Itis obvious that if the valve 26 were shifted to the opposite direction, the port 26o would register with the inlet 8c of the valve block, while port 26a would register with the port 87' of the valve block, and thus the motor rotor would be driven Ain the opposite direction, the blades IBa: of the motor rotor, however, having been rst initially forced into contact with the inner walls of the motor chamber. In' said reverse position of the valve, the piston 21 would function exactly the same as that previously described except that it would engage the opposite pin 23 and compress its related spring 22 before opening the port 26a, thereby serving the same function as in the forward direction.

As shown in Figs. 11 and 12,.the unit is submerged in an oil reservoir 34 and is suspended by bolts passing through the front and rear of theY tank 34 and anchored in bosses 35 (Fig. 9) and 36 (Fig- 8), the above arrangement forming a convenient method of suspending the unit in. the tank while permitting ready removal. The suspension of the unitin the tank is a very practical and feasible method of supplying the oil to the pump, and of supplying a sump receiving the discharge of the motor, also for recouping any losses due to seepage of thel oil from the internal parts of the unit. It further allows substantial reduction in the cost of the unit due to the fact that there is no question of minorv seepage or losses that would be inherent in a system .having an external oil supply. My invention also permits the use of a smaller unit. A larger unit would be necessary to incorporate the required seals if the unit were not submerged in a tank or reservoir containing fluid. My invention also provides a more eflicient means of dissipating the inherent heat, one form vof a cooling means being shown in Fig. 12 which utilizes a fan 34a on the input shaft and brings the entire unit into a state of thermally uniform condition. Fan 34a is shownv in dotted lines in atacan? may :be madef therei-ne withinthe'- scopeY off the claims;A

' 1: Azselfcontainedziiuidfdrive of finnite ratio; comprising a unit including a fluid pump; a` iiuid motor, and a' valve. in a'uid 'circuitrconnectinggthe pumpeandmotor; a pump drive shaft; a driven shaft for themotor; said'pump .andmotori each comprisingia centralannuiarcasing with said: members; rotorseforfthe pump andzmotor within;their'r.espectivez casingsxmounted onzthein respective shafts; 4said-Iside members havingjournal's therein coaxial with their: respective pump and` motor shafts;` hub members rotatable inv saidg' journals;V andv rotatably on their: respective shafts; ;means iol'. wcontracting 'the hub membersl aga-mst the'sidesfof their respective-rotors; said hub member-si being of.` substantially the same diameters as theirirespectiverotors and being:

freely'. rotatable: with` their`V rotors; the casingsf each` making -a runningffit withivthef peripheries: ofy their" rotors; inlet and; outlet` ports a forV said p umpiand motor extending. to;opposite sides ofi their:y respective, rotors; the outletV ports'f of i the; pumpl discharging into the duid U circuit andthe; inl-et ports ofthe` motor vleading fromY theguid circuit; saidrotors-havingfseries of radial slots: radially movable blades-,inV said slots' adapted toV engage vthe inner Walls of the pump 'and' motor; said-hub members having annulargslots in their faeess adjacent the rotors and communicating with 1 the'endsof f theblade slots; ducts for directing-duid underV pressureof the duid; circuitY into y one of thezannular slots of the pump andi. motorfhub members :to-force the blades outward-` lys` of:l the, rotor slots;- andsaidivalve being op:- erable .to effect reversalpfth'e motor rotor', said motor annular memberichaving opposed wallsmaking-a closerunningfit withthe-periphery of themotor rotor with intermediate,opposeden-Y largementsprovided .at `the respectiveends there ofjwithsaidports; theports. of the motor, being diametrically interconnected with the. Valve, wherebyfreversalof ,the motor is. eifected bythe setting ofthevalve; said valve being hollow and cylindrical andbeing. provided with heads at. both ends andv having externally axialextensions;Y sleeves extending from said extensions closed atrtheir, outer endsvpinsinsaid sleeve slidable in bores in saidYextensionswiththeir inner ends. terminating within said cylinder;v heads ronthe outer ends of 'saidpinswithinisaid' sleeves; compressed springs interposedbetweenV theouter ends ofthe pins andthe closed ends of-'the respective sleeves; a piston in said, valve` cylinder intermediate andnormally spaced from the inner; ends ofthe pins; and ports at the centercand ends-of the valve cylinder communie catinggwith ports of the valve, whereby when the valve'is'--in one extreme position the rotor will be rotated 'in one direction, and When-in the other" extreme position the motor rotor Will'be rotated inthe opposite direction; the added pressure pro-'- duced by the springs increasingA the fluid pressureeunderv the motor-blades to initially position the blades of the `motorrotor into contact withA the walls oi the motor chamber.

2.3In1a drive as set forth in claim- 1, separator plates disposed between the valve, themotor; and thepump, said plateshaving openings therein adapted to register with the ducts of the fluid circuit; said plates: having bleed-off passages therein for iiuid entrapped between the valve casing'. and; the adjacent' side-:a members: of the pumpea-ndtmotor: A

*32 itself-contained fiiiid drive of inriiteuatit; comprisingI-wunt including a i'liiidpump; a-iiuidr motor, and aZ valvein a4v fluid circuit'connecting the pump andi motor; a pump drive shaft; a: driven shaft orthemotor; said pump-fand-moton each comprising a central annular casingfwith side members; rotors' forthe pump andi'motor within their respectivecasings mountedbn their: respective shafts; said sidemembers havingjour'- na-ls" therein coaxial;` with their respective pumpA and motorshafts; hub members. rotatable in. saidjournals and' rotatably on.their respective shafts; means for contracting therhub' members againstthe sides of their respective rotors; said, hub members being of substantially thesame. dil-y ameters as their respective rotorsandbeing :free:4 1y rotatable with their rotors; .v the. casingseach. making a running t with,l the peripheriesof, their rotors.; inlet and, outlet ports forsaid pump and motori extending., to opposite sidesfoftheir; respective rotors, theoutlet portsof the ypump` discharging into the uid circuitandthe.I inlet. ports of -themotor, leadingV` from theuid circuit; said rotors ,havingrseriesofv radial slots; radial-.- 1y movablev blades in` saidslots. adapted to-fenf gage the inner walls of the; pump and motor; said, hub ,members having annular slots, in their faces adjacent the rotors and communicating with theends ofthe bladefs1ots; ducts-for: directing fluid, under pressureA of. the fluid circuit into.v one ofithe annular slotsgof the-,pump and motor" hub members to forcelthe blades outwardly of-:thel rotor slots; said valve being operable to eiectt l reversal, oi the motorfrotorggand pressure responsive means associatedwith thefvalvefor auto@ maticaily positioning the=Y vanes off theV` motor; rotor into contact With;the inner walls of f the; motor. before pressure iiuidV isv applied, to .-1 the;

motor. K

fi.- In ,a drive-as set forth-'inclairn` 3,r a-reservoir containing iiuid, and said unit being submergedf in said reservoir, said Yreservoirsupplying fiuid :toI the pump and receiving the fluid dischargedffromthe motor, saidV reservoir thereby'serving' as-ax cooling nmeans and l for; reoouping losses due `tov seepage of Y fluid from` the` internal-parts; ofthe'f pump, motor, and valve; and meansfor--circulate ing-theffluidtin said reservoir:

5.- Ina drive as set forth'in claim; theannular casinggof ythe pump vbeing Dfshaped'withitsiserniel circularA wall making a close running; fit:` with; theeperipheryi of Athe pumpvfrotor; a slidable block;Y in, the; Deshaped` casing having an arcuate sur-e 4face-oppositeithe,-serni-circular wall of thecasA ing; means for shifting the block towards or'from therotor to vary thegvolume ofthe pumping chamber formed between the pump roten-and; arcuate surface; the inlet and outlet portsgfor: said vchamber beingdisposed at the endsf,vof,th e; semifcylindrical wall; and adjustable means; for: limitingthe outward movement of the block toi thereby limit the speed of thefluid'rnotor 6. In a drive as set forth in claim 3, said/ motori annular member havingdopposedwvalls making: gar. close running t with the periphery.y of thel motorl rotor with; intermediate y opposed enlarge-` ments provided at therrespective ends thereofil with-said ports; theil ports vof the-motor being cliainetricallyr intero-connected, with the valve; whereby reversal of 'themotor is effected bythe setting of the valve.

7. lira; driveasset forth-in claim 6; said valve being-hollojw and:cylindricalandbeing'- provided 2 with heads atizboth ends:having: externally Saxia'f extensions; sleeves extending from said extensions closed at their outer ends; pins in said sleeves slidable in bores in said extensions with their inner ends terminating Within said cylinder; heads on the outer ends of said pins within said sleeves; compressed springs interposed between the outer ends of the pins and the closed ends of the respective sleeves; a piston in said valve cylinder intermediate and normally spaced from the inner ends of the pins; and ports at the center and ends of the valve cylinder communicating with ports of the valve, whereby when the Valve is in one extreme position the rotor will be rotated in one direction, and when in the other extreme position the motor rotor will be rotated in the opposite direction, the added pressure produced by the springs increasing the fluid pressure under the motor blades to initially position the blades of the motor rotor into contact with the walls of the motor chamber.

8. In a drive as set forth in claim 7, separator plates disposed between the valve, the motor,

and the pump, said plates having openingsvtherein adapted to register with the ducts of the fluid References cited in the me of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 995,117 Coleman June 13, 1911 1,203,745 Kilgore Nov. 7, 1918 1,527,685 Huwiler Feb. 24, 1925 1,789,785 Steiner et al Jan. 20, 1931 1,999,288 Fjellstedt Apr; 30, 1935 2,330,565 Eckart Sept. 28, 1943 2,417,218l Segsworth Mar. 11, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 426,861 Great Britain Apr. 10, 1935 

